Magnetic Fields Festival Unveils Lineup for Its 10th Edition

One of India’s leading contemporary music festivals, Magnetic Fields, returns to its home grounds of Rajasthan’s Alsisar Mahal from December 6-8, 2024, to celebrate its 10th anniversary. With ‘Unified Field’ as its theme this year, the festival has just announced its first list of artists and showcases to be featured across multiple stages of the festival.

Jameson Connects South Stage will feature a diverse range of electronic and experimental music with one of electronic music’s brightest names, Sofia Kourtesis, performing her signature poignant house and electronica in a live set. Also included will be German-Italian composer David August, known for his immersive melodic explorations. Joining them will be Tom VR with his blend of atmospheric house and euphoric techno, New York-based contemporary composer Shubh Saran, and Cousin Kula, a psychedelic funk disco quintet from Bristol. Other standout acts include Viennese boundary-pushers Takeshi’s Cashew, Parisian duo Ko Shin Moon with their mix of psychedelia and space disco, and Delhi-based lo-fi band DEE EN. Local talents Tushar Mathur and SULTAN round out the lineup, while special performances include Sid Vashi’s Unreleased live set and an audio-visual spectacle from Indian producer Jay Pei’s newest and most self-realised outlet Panelia.

A festival highlight, the Fieldlines commission, will also return to the South Stage with a unique collaboration between London-based dubstep DJ V.I.V.E.K and Rajasthani folk musicians, featuring the likes of brother duo Mahmud and Yusuf Khan and Kutla Khan.

The BUDx North Stage, known for spotlighting cutting-edge dance music, will feature London-based tastemaker Ahadadream, blending global club sounds, and New York’s Nikki Nair, who effortlessly fuses techno, UKG, and breakbeats. Berlin-based Gene on Earth will bring his unique blend of wonky melodies, while Nick León will showcase the new wave of Miami’s contemporary dance music alongside acid-house-inspired grooves by Indian talent Aayna. Nicola Cruz, known for his Andes-Step sound that merges ancient mythology and modern electronica, will close the North Stage on Sunday with a set rooted in folkloric traditions.

Over at the Ray-Ban Desert Oasis, crate-diggers and vinyl enthusiasts will be represented by Digging in India & Friends, featuring DJs Ani Phoebe, Nishant Mittal and Lapgan. On Saturday, Berlin’s The Ghost will take the stage for an extended set of hard-to-find tracks, followed by DJ Moe and Poly-Ritmo on Sunday, delivering sun-kissed house rhythms and feel-good tunes.

The Corona Sundowner Stage, beloved for its golden hour performances, promises a mix of eclectic live shows. Delhi-based Sublime Sound will debut a new live show, alongside the energetic duo KillZen. Other performances include atmospheric electronic creator Tom VR, Portuguese composer and DJ Caroline Lethô, experimental sound artist Flux Vortex, and the live debut of Delhi’s downtempo electronica producer SYEYL.

Late-night revelries at the BUDxYARD will be facilitated by legendary British selector Jane Fitz, followed by eclectic DJ Jay Carder. The lineup will also feature Seattle-raised, NYC-based livwutang, Brazilian producer RHR, and dubstep heavyweight V.I.V.E.K. Indian DJs Nik and Bombie will also make their Magnetic Fields debut, alongside YNZN, the first-ever DJ from Nepal to perform at the festival.

Two highly anticipated parties at this year’s edition include influential label Hyperdub’s 20th-anniversary showcase at the Ray-Ban Secret Party on Friday night featuring Kode9 and Scratchclart and Resident Advisor’s annual throwdown on Saturday night, which will see rising star Yazzus deliver an electrifying set, while Monophonik brings a live, synth-driven performance.

Rounding out the weekend will the Peacock Club, which will host London’s Rhythm Section showcase, helmed by Bradley Zero and also featuring Wallace and Private Joy, as well as the now-legendary Sunday night finale Paradise that will feature an extended set from DJ Voices. Saturday will see it become a place for leftfield, ambient and experimental music as Varun Desai-headed label Social Isolation returns for a night featuring the likes of Masta Justy, Pardafash and Songs for a Tired City.

In the palace dungeons, the Jameson Underground stage will host a show curated by Focus Group Radio who will bring Focus Group Soundsystem and London’s Poly-Ritmo, curating a vibrant mix of sounds from Afrobeat, Ethiopian jazz, and Afro disco to contemporary club genres like kuduro from Angola, gqom from South Africa, and soca from the Caribbean. Saturday will see an extended set from globetrotting DJ Moe, bringing her signature blend of global rhythms and deep grooves.

For more information, follow Magnetic Fields Festival and head here for tickets.

Image by Abhishek Shukla